🥃 Patxaran
Patxaran (Pacharán) is a Spanish drink of sloes and anise from Navarre and the Basque Country. EU rules: at least 25% ABV and 125 g of sloes per litre; the name is for Spain only.
Patxaran, written Pacharán in Spanish, is the sloe-and-anise drink of Navarre and the Basque Country, often confused with sloe gin. It is made by steeping sloes (Prunus spinosa) in spirit together with anise. EU rules require at least 25% ABV, and the name "Pacharán" may be used only for products made in Spain.
Origin. The word comes from the Basque "basaran", meaning sloe. At first the drink was a home recipe; according to Cook's Info, industrial production began in the late 19th century and grew quickly after the 1950s. In 1988 Navarre set up a Consejo Regulador for the protected name "Pacharán Navarro".
Rules. Under EU Regulation 2015/210 the flavour must be predominantly sloe, with at least 125 g of fruit and 80 to 250 g of sugar per litre, and the colour and flavour come only from sloes and anise. The stricter 2002 regulation for Pacharán Navarro sets 25-30% ABV, 125-250 g of sloes per litre, one to eight months of steeping and production only in Navarre; the anise is green or star anise only.
Serving. It is taken after a meal, chilled or over ice, as a digestif. In Navarre and the Basque Country it is an everyday home tradition tied to the autumn sloe harvest. Home recipes sometimes add coffee beans and vanilla, but the Navarre regulation does not provide for them.
Why this matters to you. Home-made and industrial Patxaran are different drinks, so check the strength and the name. "Pacharán Navarro" guarantees origin from Navarre. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2015/210 (category 'Pacharán'); Pacharán Navarro under the Navarre regulation (BOE-A-2003-572) |
|---|---|
| EU category | 32 - Sloe-aromatised spirit drink or pacharán (Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I) |
| Raw material | sloes (Prunus spinosa) from 125 g/l, spirit of agricultural origin, green or star anise |
| Distillation method | not distillation but infusion (maceration) of sloes in spirit for 1 to 8 months (Pacharán Navarro) |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | from 25% ABV (EU); Pacharán Navarro is 25-30% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Patxaran → similar → 🌿 Anise spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 Spaniards
- Part of
- 🍸 Liqueurs
- Related to
- 🌍 Southern Europe
- Similar and different
- 🌿 Anise spirits, 🥃 Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, 🥃 Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, 🥃 Sheridan's, 🥃 Sheridan's
Frequently asked questions
Is Patxaran the same as sloe gin?
No. Sloe gin is gin with sloes, while Patxaran is made from sloes steeped in spirit with anise. In the EU they are different categories.
What is Patxaran made from?
From sloes (Prunus spinosa), spirit of agricultural origin and anise. The colour and flavour must come only from sloes and anise.
What ABV is Patxaran?
In the EU, at least 25% ABV. Under the Navarre regulation, Pacharán Navarro is 25-30% ABV.
What does Pacharán Navarro mean on a label?
It is the protected name of the drink from Navarre. The 2002 regulation requires production in that province and 125-250 g of sloes per litre.
Why is it spelled both Patxaran and Pacharán?
Patxaran is the Basque spelling and Pacharán the Spanish one. The name comes from the Basque word "basaran", meaning sloe.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
- 🌍 Southern Europe — The Mediterranean south of Europe — Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal: sheep's and goat's milk cheeses and most of the world's olive oil.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Spaniards — The people of Spain; flamenco, human towers, Fallas, the world's largest vineyards and over a third of the world's olive oil.
Similar
🥃 Pacharán · 🌿 Pastis de Marseille · 🥃 Mastika · 🥃 Poncha · 🌿 Pastis · 🍸 Berenburg
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2015/210 amending Reg. 110/2008: category 'Sloe-aromatised spirit drink or Pacharán' (min 25 % ABV, 125 g sloes per litre, sugar 80-250 g/l, name only for Spain)
- BOE-A-2003-572: Reglamento de la denominación específica 'Pacharán Navarro' (25-30 % vol., 125-250 g endrinas per litre, 1-8 months maceration, Navarra)
- Cook's Info: Patxaran (Basque origin of the word, sloes, anise, commercial production from the late 19th century)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I: categories (26 pastis, 27 pastis de Marseille, 30 bitter, 32 pacharán, 33 liqueur) — legislation.gov.uk copy
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)